UM Ethical Decision in The Thelma and Louise Case Memorandum

PROMPT:

This is based on the film Thelma and Louise directed by Ridley Scott. Imagine that you have been working as a paid summer intern in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in an Arkansas county. One day, your supervising attorney, I. M. Goodolboy, tells you about an interesting case he is working on. He says that there was a homicide at a roadhouse bar and a woman named Louise was arrested for shooting a “very bad, sexist man named Harlan.” Louise apparently killed him after he had attempted to rape her friend Thema. I. M. continues by saying “the record shows that after the two women started walking away, Harlan shouted some ugly vulgarities at them, and that’s when Louise took out the gun and shot him.” Then he shows you the file. “I have to decide whether to file criminal charges against Louise. I’m pretty sure I can make the case and get a guilty verdict. But I’m conflicted. My concern is whether she was morally justified in committing that act or not. I’d like your opinion.

Please give me a memo on whether you think she was justified and whether you think I should file charges against her or not. It’s my decision. My responsibility is to use my discretion in the interests of justice. That’s a prosecutor’s job. Would justice be served? Your memo should be on issues of ethics and social policy, not law.